Nigeria women’s national team coach Justin Madugu has described the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) draw with Zambia, Egypt, and debutants Malawi in Group C as a good one.
“It’s a good one for us because at this level, there are no easy teams. At the same time, it is equally good that you come up against such teams, even in the group stage, because by the time you are done with that, you hope it helps to make your team even better,” Madugu told reporters after the draw in Rabat on Thursday.
The 2024 WAFCON-winning coach singled out Zambia, whom his team eliminated from the previous edition in the quarterfinals with a 5-0 win, saying facing them again would be a tough challenge but he is not worried.
“It’s not quite much of a worry for us because we know them. We know they know us also. So it’s going to be a tough one,” Madugu said.
He continued: “It’s not going to be an easy game, considering the results of the last game between the two of us. So we all know how challenging that can be, but then it’s something that we have to work on our team.”
Madugu, however, boldly stated that his team’s main objective is to reach the semifinals, which will guarantee automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
“For us, the priority is to pick the World Cup ticket. That is our major objective. Retaining the cup will be second; the primary objective is to qualify, to make sure that Nigeria makes an appearance at the next World Cup in Brazil. Any other thing that comes after that will be like a bonus for us.
“That is not to say we’re just going to relinquish the cup. We want to retain it as well as qualify to go to the World Cup. That is our major objective.”
The 16-team tournament will run from 17 March to 3 April in Morocco, with matches staged in Rabat, Casablanca, and Fez. The tournament also doubles as a qualifier for the World Cup, with the semifinalists earning automatic qualification to the Brazil global showpiece.
Nigeria, who have now won the WAFCON a record eleven times, will open their campaign against Malawi on 18 March in Casablanca, face the Copper Queens on 21 March, and conclude their group-stage matches against Egypt on 24 March.
READ ALSO: “I Like the Challenges” – Hauptle Reacts to WAFCON Group Draw
